(no subject)

[socrowdedinhere]

Vashti: *softly brushes the back of her fingers along his cheek* I am not going to hurt you, Darnell. I am not going to abuse or mistreat you, and when your time has passed I will see you supplied to safely travel home.

Darnell: *visibly catches himself from flinching back from her - he /really/ doesn't want to be touched right now, and any approach to his face, especially by someone he's unsure of when he's in such a state of mind, will /always/ get a reaction . . . finally does look away and down again* Why? Why did you bother with me today? Why not just leave me to it?

Vashti: Because I wronged you a couple weeks ago when I let you be taken from here. I knew you did not deserve punishment, and I still let him take you. I was wrong.

Darnell: .......... *soft snort and shakes his head, crossing his arms...fairly hugging himself* No, you didn't. I knew /exactly/ what I was in for as soon as I saw my knife in Rai's chest. I was foolish and /arrogant/ - *and terrified* - to think I could /buy/ my way out of it. The rest is just the way of things.

Vashti: Perhaps, but I would have allowed it had the officer not been there to enforce the law. You do not deserve punishment for Rai's death, Darnell, and if I could release you without consequence to both of us, I would.

Darnell: ................ *leans forward, face in his hands, elbows propped on his knees, just...he just wants this to all be over, he just wants to go home...he still has his /entire/ sentence ahead of him...*

Vashti: *touches his shoulder, a comforting gesture, before shifting back to lean on her desk* If you wish to send a message to anyone, I will see it done. 

Darnell: .........t-the...the officer did when I....um, that...that first night. I have a friend who knows what happened and should have already claimed my belongings.

Vashti: *nods* You can send messages as often as you wish while you are here. I am afraid it is all I can offer you while you are here.  Half a year will pass more quickly than you might be able to believe right now.

Comments

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *nods* Thank you, ma'am. Uh! M-mis...Mistress. *the word is foreign and bitter in his mouth...though that's not directed at her*

[socrowdedinhere]

Vashti: *studies him...* Ma’am is acceptable if it is an easier word for you to stomache.

[dragondancer5150]

Darnell: *hunches...and bows* I-I'm sorry. *he's trying! He is! He doesn't mean any disrespect. He'll be good!*

[socrowdedinhere]

Vashti: There is nothing to apologize for, I understand how dificult it can be to be under someone’s comand.

[dragondancer5150]

Darnell: .....*nods, straightening but keeping his head bowed, exhausted and more than a little lost, wants to ask if that's it, if he can leave, but doesn't dare*

[socrowdedinhere]

Vashti: *straightens and touches his shoulder again as she passes for the door. She’ll come back in with Tyli, who was off down the hall.* I believe Darnell is sharing a room with Warik, make sure he can find his way there, please. Darnell, try to get some rest. You can look into work tomorrow.
Tyli: *nods* Sure.

[immortal_kitten]

Darnell: *stands, bows, and will move to follow Tyli, gaze still subserviently down*

[socrowdedinhere]

Tyli: *slips an arm around his shoulders, supportive.*

[immortal_kitten]

Darnell: *leans into her...just a little...*


((LOL I hope Warik has that little jar or whatever that Rashek gave Darnell, bc Darnell's completely lost track of it. XD;;;))

[socrowdedinhere]

Tyli: *will lead him back to the room Warik stopped by earlier.* Here you go, hon. *can't help it. She'll nuzzle the top of his head* Get some rest, you'll feel better once you sleep.

[immortal_kitten]

Darnell: *quietly* Thank you, Tyli. *wants a hug, especially after that nuzzle (OMG MISSES TERRIS SO MUCH all of a sudden), but he'll settle for a touch to her arm before turning into the room - Warik's, huh, well at least he knows his roommate already*

[socrowdedinhere]

Tyli: *when he hesitates...she'll pull him into a gentle hug if he'll have her.* You're welcome.*
*When she does go, Darnell will find his clothes where Warik put them, along with some toiletries in a bag, and the little container of cream for his back, at least he doesn't need to reapply yet.*

[immortal_kitten]

Darnell: *flinches but then HUGS back . . . heading into the room, he searches the bag and finds what it is, he's thankful for that, notes the little jar, sticks it in the bag for lack of else to do with it. Not wholly sure what to do with his new belongings - yes, he's noted the empty chest at the end of the bed but doesn't want to assume - so he piles things in the top inside corner of the bed, between the pillow and the wall, and will crawl under the covers . . . at some point, he'll wind up /under/ the bed, though...belongings and all*

[immortal_kitten]

Darnell: *will allow it, will even lean in...j-just a little...*

[socrowdedinhere]

*The room is indeed full. And...Darnell will find the atmosphere is light, and people who make note of him give him smiles or friendly "hellos" in greeting.*

[immortal_kitten]

Darnell: *braced and drawn inward a little, but not unfriendly, will give a nod and small grin to anyone who acknowledges him, though he won't approach, sticking close to Warik*

[socrowdedinhere]

*He'll have a number of people approach him. A panda amin named Zasha will come say hi and will sit with them as they eat. Skif will join them too, as will a j'har man named Kelsier. They'll try to get Darnell talking. Where's he from, what did he do for a living? Married? They will say they're not trying to dredge up anything painful, he /will/ be going home in a few months, and he doesn't have to talk about anything he doesn't want to. They're all open to sharing too.*

[immortal_kitten]

Darnell: *guarded, doesn't want to get too talkative, but he'll answer their questions readily enough - he's from the capitol, he was a detective (he won't say he was the king's detective), not married . . . he'll /apologize/ about Rai - if they don't already know that's why he's here, he's not going to hide that from them, they deserve to know*

[socrowdedinhere]

Kel: We know. *voice soft, and a small smile on his face.* We've all heard of what happened, and we don't blame you. You didn't do anything to him on purpose. We're just sorry you've end up paying for it the way you have. It's not right.
Zasha: *nods* If nothing else, hon, we know Rai, he'd be so upset that you were in trouble for his death, the least we can do is honor him by welcoming you the way he would.

[immortal_kitten]

Darnell: *looks at them, visibly affected . . . nods* Thank you. Both of you. I've never wanted to hurt /anyone/. I only learned throwing knives because a friend was adamant that I learn to defend myself with as much as I travel, usually alone. *shakes his head* I won't be touching them again after this. Too much risk of something like this happening again, either to a traveling companion or someone random, like Rai.

[socrowdedinhere]

Skif: *puts a comforting had on Darnell's arm...and then shifts to hug him*
Zasha: I'm sorry this happened, Darnell. You really will be okay until you are free again. You're in a good house.

[immortal_kitten]

Darnell: *wraps an arm around Skif, easily hugging back* Thank you. *glances around the room* Is there anyone I should, ah, keep an eye out for? Someone with a grudge against humans? Not that I'd blame them at all.

[socrowdedinhere]

*They all kind of exchange looks.*
Zasha: Really, the only one who /might/ give you any trouble is Vin. There won't really be any avoiding her if she decides to approach you. She's not going to try to deliberately get you into trouble, though he may try to provoke you a bit. Just...be polite and she'll let up, assuming she approaches you at all.
*The others nod*

[immortal_kitten]

Darnell: *nods* I will. I really don't want any trouble with anyone, and I have nothing against anyone merely based on race or parentage. *shrugs*

[socrowdedinhere]

Kel: I have to admit, that's rather unusual among humans, what brought you to believe that? *not distrusting, hells, Darnell has already proven himself to be polite and caring towards the other races, just curious what life events led Darnell to see other races as people when so many in society don't.*